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Cupid is the ancient Roman god of love who carries a bow and arrow. Those pierced by these arrows fall deeply in love with each other. Over the years, this mythological creature has only gained popularity, but have you ever wondered what would happen if Cupid fell in love? That is exactly what happened to me, Naomi King. I’d always been the matchmaker in my high-school, a modern-day Cupid, if you will. And one day, I was asked to pair the two people I least expected.
It was a mild, Autumn morning in early November, and I was on the bus to school. Sitting next to me was my friend, Liam Strange, and we were debating which superhero show was better: Green Arrow or The Flash?
This topic of conversation was very normal for us, and I quite enjoyed our banter. We met two years earlier at a comic book store. I apologized for bumping into him and noticed he was holding the newest issue of a comic I wanted: Ultimate Batman.
We talked about it and got to know each other, while also comparing all the Marvel and DC comics in the store to each other. We exchanged numbers before going our separate ways and realized that we went to the same school, and that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship!
The bus came to a stop. He let me walk out before him as usual, and we greeted my best friend Priyanka Rahim in the hallway. We talked until the bell rang and he walked off to his class with one last sheepish grin. Priya and I went the opposite way.
At recess, Liam, Priyanka and I sat at our usual table of isolation in the corner. I’d be lying if I said there were popular tables and an ‘uncool’ tables, but it was silently agreed upon amongst our peers that our trio was the latter. We joked around and I pulled my blue comb through my afro while looking in my compact mirror. When recess was over, Liam pulled me aside.
“Naomi, can I – uhm - ask you for a favor?”
“Yeah, what’s up?” I asked, intrigued.
“You know Priya… I was thinking, maybe if she doesn’t have a boyfriend already you could, kind of”- he exhaled, clearly embarrassed. “Could you set us up? I mean you did it for like half the couples in the school so you seem reliable.”
My heart dropped down to my stomach. I blinked in surprise. “Uh, sure. I guess.”
The bell rang before he could say anything, I rushed out of the cafeteria so I wouldn’t be late to my next class.
Okay, that was a lie.
I rushed out of the cafeteria because ever since his last birthday when he hugged me for a little longer than usual after opening my gift (a Spider-Man Funko Pop) and looked deeply into my eyes, I developed a huge crush on him, and it still hadn’t gone away. Now knowing that he liked my best friend and I agreed to get them together was like witnessing a volcano erupt while you stood inside.
The rest of the day was a blur. I was just so focused on ensuring the thick, boiling sludge that twisted through my intestines every time Liam spoke to Priya didn’t spill out of my mouth.
At last the final bell rang. The usually annoying screech was a breath of fresh air. Liam and I got into the bus and sat in our usual spot in the back; he looked out the window and waved Priya goodbye as she got on her motorbike. Ugh, why did she have to be so much cooler than me?
“Naomi, I didn’t get to thank you earlier but you’re awesome.”
“I haven’t done anything yet.” I laughed awkwardly.
I gave him the silent treatment for the whole 30-minute ride home, but he was too busy reading his manga to notice. The bus came to a stop and I mumbled a ‘bye’ before taking off to my front door. Taking my shoes off and stepping into the house was freedom.
“Honey, come taste this pot roast and tell me if it needs more salt.” Mom called from the kitchen.
Ah, yes. If anything would make me feel better, it was food.
* * *
Although it was the best pot roast Mamma had made, I ate it hastily and excused myself to ‘study’. I really went into my room to make a plan for Liam. I’d done this many times before for a lot of my peers, but remained anonymous. Only Liam and Priya knew.
It was a simple procedure. Jot down the guy and girl’s common interests and hobbies, then ask them what their ideal dates are, and decide on an activity for the two to do together. Lastly, give whoever wanted to ask who out everything they needed to do so. Easy. However, planning my crush and my best friend’s first date was the hardest thing I’d ever done.
I sat at my desk and opened my black, A4 notebook to a new page. Every word I wrote chipped off a piece of my heart. But I wanted them to be happy, too, so I kept going. The time showed 21:04 on my phone, so I got into bed cried myself to sleep.
***
Come on, Naomi, you can do this! Just put on a brave face and help your friend. I motivated myself in the bathroom mirror while I styled my hair the next morning. I guess it’s true what they say about having a good cry, because I actually woke up feeling a little better the next morning. Just a little.
I put on a red midi skirt, black tank top, red crotchet bolero, white crocs and a gold necklace that matched my nose ring. It was a cute outfit and a small, foolish part of me thought Liam would notice it, too.
Liam was waiting for me at the bus stop, with a huge grin on his face. If I was an anime character, I’d have blushed dramatically.
“Hey Nay-Nay!” he greeted cheerfully.
“Like the dance move? Yeah, you are really bad at the whole nickname thing.”
“Gosh, it’s that obvious? Oh, well. Have any ideas yet?” he looked at me expectantly. The bus pulled up and the doors opened. I opened my notebook when we sat down.
“So, here’s the plan. You both like eating and listening to music. I have three options for you: take her to a movie and get ice-cream after, go to Olive Garden for dinner and live music, or invite her over for dinner at your house. I don’t need to give you a list of her likes and dislikes because you guys are already well acquainted, but you do need to see if she likes you on your own before asking her out.”
“Wow, you really take this whole Cupid thing seriously.” He chuckled.
“Well, you did ask for the best of the best!” I replied with a confident smirk.
I distanced myself from Liam and Priya the whole day, mainly because I wanted to give Liam a chance to ‘do his thing’, but also out of jealousy. However, my efforts were all in vain because I kicked over a trash can when I saw them hugging after school.
Oh shoot.
I was met with a few judgmental glances but Liam and Priya didn’t care.
Are you kidding me?
I didn’t even take the bus after that, I walked home. I hated how immature I was being but the mixture of jealousy and regret that I had to hold in was killing me.
I ignored my parents when they asked me how my day was and rushed up to my room. After hours of studying and silently cursing them both in my head, I finally went downstairs for dinner.
“Baby, what is wrong with you?” Mamma asked, handing me a plate of mac-and-cheese and spicy chicken tenders.
“Nothing.”
“Lil’ girl, don’t lie to me.”
“I’m fine, Mamma,” I took a bite of my dinner. “I just had a s-stomach ache, but I’m okay now.”
“Okay, but if anything is wrong, you can tell me.” She hugged me and kissed my forehead gently.
Just then, Papa got back from work, and we all ate dinner together.
* * *
I got ready for bed after washing the dishes, and my phone started ringing while I was brushing my teeth. It was Priya. I spat my toothpaste out and answered.
“Hey, guess what!”
“What?”
“Liam asked me out today!”
“What?” I faked my surprise. “That’s … wow.”
“Yeah, he asked me to go to Olive Garden with him tomorrow night! I never thought he liked me but I guess he does. And he is pretty cute so I’m not complaining.” She giggled like a 12-year-old girl.
“Yeah, that’s amazing! Need me to help you pick out what to wear?”
“Two words: COMING. OVER.”
“Like, right now? It’s almost nine.”
“Nope, already on my way.” She dropped the call.
And surely enough, she was knocking at the front door fifteen minutes later. Mom let her in without hesitation and she took my hand as we jogged upstairs to my room.
“I’m thinking something blue that says ‘I like you but I’m not trying too hard.” She looked at me expectantly.
“You’re always raiding my closet. I’m going to start charging you.” I pulled a blue, silk, halter neck shirt and low-rise, flared jeans out of my closet and handed them to her.
“Oh. My. Word. It’s perfect!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a hug. I hugged her back guiltily.
Why can’t Liam just like me?
“You still need to try it on.”
She took off her pajamas and put on my clothes. She looked amazing in my outfit, the jeans complemented her curves, however the shirt was too loose. I used a large safety pin to tighten it and she beamed as she looked in the mirror.
“Thanks a lot, Naomi. You’re the best!”
“Any time.” I forced a smile, guilt crushing my insides like a hydraulic press.
My mom called out to me from downstairs. “It’s late now, girls. I asked Priyanka’s mom if she can sleepover, so don’t try walking home.”
“Okay, mom!” I called back.
“Thanks, Kiara!” Priyanka’s voice followed.
Mamma insisted all my friends called her by her first name, so this was normal. We talked a bit before falling asleep at 22:30. The next day, Mamma drove us both to school and we arrived at the same time as Liam.
Priyanka and Liam greeted each other with a hug. It was awkward and short, but seeing Priya blush as they looked into each other’s eyes was a different kind of pain.
I walked off into the school building, slowly at first. Then I started jogging, and then running to the bathroom. I got into a stall, put my backpack on the toilet seat, and slid onto the floor with my back to the door and my head in my hands.
I wanted so badly to cry but the tears weren’t coming out, so I just sat there, trying to calm myself down, until the bell rang. I took my bag and walked to my locker to get my books before the second bell rang.
I isolated myself from them again that day. I sat in the library during recess, didn’t answer any questions on class, didn’t talk to either of them unless they spoke first and kept my head down. I was so pathetic. At the end of the day, I felt a warm hand grab my elbow as I turned to get out of class. It was Liam.
“Naomi, wait up. Are you okay? I could’ve sworn you were avoiding me all day.” He chuckled, but it sounded forced.
“Well, I wasn’t. And you can let go of me now.” I snapped. He let go gently, and my whole body burned from that lingering touch.
“Well, I should go check on-”
“You should.” I cut him off, trying to keep my tone even.
“Are we … good?” he looked concerned. I found myself looking into those deep green eyes again, and quickly tore my head away.
“Of course! Why wouldn’t we be?” I choked out.
“Alright, good.” He smirked and gave me a fist bump, setting my whole body ablaze again, before going to meet with Priyanka.
I took a long nap as soon when I got home that afternoon to try and escape my cruel reality. I woke up at 19:08 feeling just as bad as before, only less tired. I saw a few text messages from Priyanka on my phone.
One was a selfie of her and Liam, and the rest were updates.
I got a Ceaser salad! It’s so yum!
He pulled out my chair for me.
I lazily responded to each of the messages with a heart emoji and went down for dinner. Although I had no appetite, I also had no desire to rot in my bed the whole night.
* * *
I become a master at suppressing my emotions when Liam and Priyanka officially started dating. They weren’t exactly public but their relationship wasn’t a secret either. Oftentimes I would see Priya give Liam puzzled looks and chuckle nervously.
Liam didn’t really show PDA. I knew he wasn’t a fan of it, but it was weird that he touched me more than his girlfriend. He was always high-fiving me or patting me on the shoulder, but I barely ever saw him so much as kiss Priya.
I assumed these observations were just inaccurate assumptions fueled by jealousy, until one day when I saw them having what seemed to be a very serious conversation. I tried my best not to eavesdrop but curiosity got the best of me.
“Liam, these past few weeks have been really fun, but I think we both know that you don’t like me as much as you think you do.”
“Why would you say that? Of course I do; you’re my girl-”
“Yes, but you wish someone else was.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know what I mean…”
“Priya, please.”
“I think we should just be friends.” With that, she got on her bike and pedaled off.
I quickly hid myself as Liam walked by, head hanging like a dog. The bus ride that afternoon was yet another awkwardly silent one. He was clearly sad about the breakup, so I let him be. I just read my book and fought off the smile that was tugging at my lips. So what if I was happy he was single again? He still didn’t like me.
Priyanka called me just as I reached my house.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” I answered.
“So, Liam and I broke up…”
“No way! Why? Is he cheating on you? Are you okay?”
“I don’t know…” her voice trailed off.
“Hello?”
“Yeah, I just think we were better off being friends.”
“Oh, well as long as you’re okay.” I was biting my lip to keep it from curling upwards now.
“Yeah, I am. Is he?”
“Didn’t look like it on the bus.”
“Ooof. He’ll get over it”
***
I heard a knock on the door the next morning after I’d eaten breakfast. I wondered what Priya could’ve wanted on a Saturday morning, but to my surprise, standing behind the door was Liam.
“H-hey Liam. What are you doing here?” I nearly lost balance from shock.
“Hi, could we talk?”
“Uh, yeah. Let me just tell my mom.”
We walked to the COMICS&MANGA store a few blocks away. The place where we’d first met.
“So, what’s up? I asked, picking up a Jujutsu Kaisen manga.
“Well, uh”- he fiddled with his hands, not meeting my eyes.
“Is everything okay? You don’t look too hot. Not that you’re ugly or anything.” I added hastily.
Liam’s cheeks were flushed. “Do you remember my birthday party last year, where you gave me a Spidey FUNKO Pop, and we hugged?”
“Yeah. What about it?” I cleared my throat, walking to the DC isle.
“Well, it was a really great party because you were there.” He followed me. “And I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that moment since.” He looked directly at me now, getting redder by the minute.
I blinked. “Liam, what are you saying?”
“I really like you. And I was just too scared to tell you before because I didn’t know if you felt the same. So I asked Priya out to make the feelings going away but they really didn’t. If anything I think about you even more now.” He took a step closer to me and my heart raced.
“S-so you’re over Priya?”
“I was never into her,” he gently took my hands in his. “Would you do me the honor of letting me be your boyfriend?”
My heart exploded into a million fireworks as I heard those words. I was speechless.
“Naomi, did I make you uncomfortable?” he asked as he let go of my hands. I gawked at him for a long time before bringing myself to respond. He started walking away.
“NO!” I exclaimed, collecting myself. I laced my fingers through his once again. “No, I like you, too. I’ve been waiting for this for so long.”
We were both grinning like idiots. He wrapped me up in his arms and when we pulled apart, he finally kissed me.
THE END.
